JPH0360668B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a recording apparatus equipped with a positioning mechanism for a recording head and a recording material, and particularly to a recording apparatus equipped with a so-called full line type recording head.

Among the various recording methods currently known, this is a non-impact recording method that generates almost no noise during recording, and is capable of high-speed recording.
Moreover, the so-called inkjet recording method, which allows recording on plain paper without requiring special fixing treatment, is an extremely useful method for realizing printing devices such as various printers, word processors, and copying machines.

In this inkjet recording method, small droplets of recording liquid (referred to as ink in the following explanation) are ejected using various working principles, and the droplets are attached to a recording medium such as paper for recording. This is what we do. An ink droplet generating device, that is, an inkjet device, used in such an inkjet recording system mainly consists of an inkjet head section for forming ink droplets and an ink supply system for supplying the ink to the inkjet head section.

By the way, as a first form of the above-mentioned ink jet head, there is a so-called single type or semi-multi type, which has about 1 to 10 ink ejection ports. These heads have a relatively simple structure, and even if they break down, they can be replaced easily and at low cost.

However, when using a so-called full line type head, which is used for the purpose of printing one line of recording paper, which is a recording medium, almost simultaneously, maintenance management and replacement work are easier than with the above-mentioned heads. do not have. Moreover, replacing the entire inkjet system all at once is costly.

On the other hand, in the inkjet recording method described above, since ink is ejected from the ejection openings of the inkjet recording head to a recording medium such as recording paper to perform recording, the distance between the ejection opening surface and the recording medium must be kept constant during recording. Especially when recording with high print quality, and especially when recording using a full-line type recording head, it is desirable to have a method that reliably maintains the distance between the ejection port surface and the recording medium during recording. It was rare.

The present invention solves these problems,
The present invention provides a stable and highly reliable recording device. In particular, the present invention provides a full-line type recording device that can provide stable image quality.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic external perspective view showing an example of a recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, 101 is a recording head unit, and this recording head unit 101 is composed of an inkjet head section 103 having a plurality of ejection ports (orifices) 102 arranged in a line, a drive control section 104, and a wiring section 105. The head part 1
03, the drive control section 104 and the wiring section 105 are connected to each other by a bonding wire, a flexible printed board, etc. (not shown), and the head unit 101 is connected by inputting a recording signal to the wiring section 105.
are set so that they can be printed individually. Reference numeral 106 is a support plate for the head unit 101, and the head unit 1 is mounted on both the front and back surfaces of the support plate.
As shown in the figure, a plurality of 01 are arranged in parallel to constitute a full-line type recording section of a recording means in which the discharge ports 102 are arranged in a so-called full line over a predetermined printing paper width (that is, one line). The fixing position of each head unit 101 in the left and right direction is adjusted by a head positioning plate 107 attached to the support plate 106, and the fixing position in the vertical direction is adjusted by a head holding plate 108 with respect to the support plate 106. It is arranged to be detachable.

109 is a matrix flexible printed plate for transmitting output signals from a signal output section (not shown) to the wiring section 105 of each head unit 101 via a cable 110 and a connector 111; Each head unit 101 is pressed into contact with an individual wiring section 105,
It is electrically connected to each wiring section 105. In this way, the printing plate 109 and each wiring section 105 are not bonded to each other and can be freely attached and detached.

Reference numeral 113 denotes a lead terminal attachment plate, which connects a signal output section (not shown) for driving the head unit 101 to another signal line 114 and each head unit 10.
A signal line (not shown) that is directly connected to the head portion 103 of the head 1 is removably connected by screwing or the like.

115 and 115' are both ink tanks 116
This is an ink supply pipe for supplying ink from the ink to each head section 103. These ink supply tubes are
Two of them are connected to each head section 103, and when ink is ejected, ink is supplied to the head section 103 through two supply pipes 115 and 115'. The valve mechanism also allows ink to be circulated under pressure between the ink tank 116 and the head section 103, with one side used for pressurized feeding and the other used for ink recovery.

The ink tank 116 is equipped with a cylinder block 117 containing a pressure pump for operating the valve mechanism, and an air filter block 118 having a vent. A removable cap 119 is attached to prevent scattering.

The ink tank 116 is also provided with an ink replenishment port (not shown), through which the ink tank 116 can be filled.
Ink is replenished from a replenishment tank 120 so that the ink level within the replenishment tank 120 remains approximately constant. This replenishment tank 120 is removably locked to the ink tank 116 with fixing claws 121, 121' provided on the ink tank 116 side, making it possible to replace the old and new tanks as necessary. ing. The ink tank 116 is fixed on an ink tank base (not shown), and the ink tank 116 is fixed on an ink tank base (not shown).
It is also fixed to the support plate 106 by 22, 122'.

123 is a cover of the head unit 101 that is provided with grooves for fixing the ink supply pipes 115, 115';
This is to prevent the paper from being contaminated by ink or the like or from being damaged by impact during handling.

Reference numerals 124 and 124' are positioning pins provided in the recording means and serving as recording means side positioning parts that also serve as means for relatively guiding the corresponding positioning parts to the engagement position, and these are shown in FIG. As shown, a pin is attached to the paper conveyance system constituting the recording area forming means corresponding to the recording means, and serves as a positioning section on the recording area forming means side, which also serves as a means for relatively guiding the corresponding positioning section to the engagement position. It is positioned by fitting into a holder, and a predetermined distance and positional relationship between the ejection opening (orifice) 102 of each head section 103 and the recording paper, which is the recording medium, is set. In addition, the positioning pins 124, 1
24', the support plate 106 is fixed by respective brackets 125, 125'.

Reference numeral 126 denotes a board for mounting the illustrated inkjet recording apparatus on an unillustrated device main body with the support plate 106 placed thereon. A mechanism and a capping mechanism for the discharge port 102 are provided.

Further, the support plate 106 is supported at its front part by support plate guides 127, 127', and at its rear part by hinge stands 128, 12 attached to the support plate 106.
8', hinge holders 129, 129'
are slidable on two guide shafts 131, 131' via guide shaft collars 130, 130', respectively. The guide shaft 131 is supported by a guide bracket 132 on the substrate 126 (the guide shaft 131' side is not shown).

Here, by advancing or changing the guide shaft collars 130, 130' along the respective guide shafts 131, 131', the support plate 106
The head can also be slid on guides 127, 127' and moved in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the front end surface of the head can be set at a predetermined position such as a recording position, a capping position, a maintenance position, etc., as will be described later.

133 is a head for capping and cleaning the discharge port 102, and on the side opposite to the discharge port there is a jet port for spouting air or cleaning liquid toward the discharge port, and a suction port for suctioning the head 102. It has a mouth. The ejection port and the suction port are connected to pressure side tubes 134 and 13 at locations not shown, respectively.
4' and the suction side tubes 134, 134' and the suction side tubes 135, 135', and the joint 136
and 137, and the joint 136 is connected to the pressure side and the suction side of the pump via a relubricator (not shown), and the discharge side joint 137 is connected to the suction side of the pump via a filter (not shown), respectively. .

Note that the cleaner head 133, which also serves as a cap for the entire recording head, is also attached to the support plate 106.
It is set so that it can take a recording posture, a capping posture, and a maintenance posture according to the movement of the camera.

Further, as the detailed structure will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the support plate 106 is supported by hinge pins 138 and 138' attached to hinge stands 128 and 128' connected thereto. Board 1
It is possible for the side surface of the discharge port 06 to rotate in a circular arc. As shown in the side view of FIG. 2, after the support plate 106 is rotated as described above, the stay angle 14 fixed to the base plate 126 is
By crimping the stay 141, one end of which is pivotally attached to the support plate 106, with a screw 142 to the stay angle 139 joined to the support plate 106, the support plate 106 is made to have a desired angle with respect to the surface of the substrate 126. (for example, at the position drawn by the second two-dot chain line). By doing this, it is possible to perform maintenance work and parts replacement on both sides of the support plate 106, especially the recording head unit 101, etc., which is disposed on the back side as shown (the side facing the board 126 in FIG. 1). The work can be carried out without any hassle.

Furthermore, attach the fixing screw 142 to the stay angle 139.
The support plate 106 can also be easily removed from the substrate by pulling it out.

Incidentally, 143 is tube 134, 134', 1
35, 135' are tube guides for fixing the cables 110, 144 on the board 126,
This is a protective case for the signal line 144. As a result, when the inkjet recording device shown in FIG.
This can prevent damage or disconnection due to unexpected application of external pressure to the signal line 144.

Here, the interlocking operation of the cleaner head 133 and the support plate 106 on which an inkjet head unit (not shown) is placed will be explained using FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c. In Figure 3 a, b, and C,
The hinge stand 128 attached to the support plate 106 is locked to the hinge holder 129 by having its hinge pin 138 pivotally supported in a pin receiving groove of the hinge holder 129. After the guide shaft collar 130 is inserted into the hinge holder, the spring 302
It is locked by a ring 301 via. At this time, the collar is rotatable within the holder 129. The collar is slidably fitted onto the guide shaft, and this guide shaft 131 is attached to its bracket 132.
The bracket is further fixed to a substrate 126.

The guide shaft 131 has three ring-shaped grooves 304,
305 and 306 are provided, and these three ring-shaped grooves are communicated by an axial groove 307. A guide pin 303 is attached to the guide shaft collar 130.
are attached to the grooves 304, 30.
5, 306, and 307 and can be moved, and the guide shaft collar 130 can be fixed at any ring-shaped position on the guide shaft 131. That is, the collar 130 is moved to a predetermined position by sliding the guide pin 303 in the axial groove 307, and the guide pin 303 is moved into the groove 304, 305, 30.
6, the collar 130 can be fixed to any of the three groove positions of the guide shaft 131.

First, in the embodiment of FIG. 3a, the guide pin 303
is fitted into the ring-shaped groove 304 at the right end in the figure, and the collar 130 is fixed at a position on the guide shaft 131 (furthest from the cleaner head 133).
At this time, the hinge holder 129 is pushed to the left in the drawing via the spring 302, and the hinge stand 128 that is locked to the hinge holder 129 and the support plate 106 connected thereto are pushed against the hinge holder 129.
9 and move to the left in the drawing.

In this state, the tip of the support plate 106 is spaced apart from the cleaner head 133 (which abuts the support stand 213 and stands substantially upright). Therefore, the support plate 106 can be removed from the substrate 126,
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the cleaner head 133 is rotated about the hinge pin 138 so that the support plate 106 has an angle with respect to the surface of the substrate 126.
Since the inkjet head section 103 and the cleaner head 133 can be fixed in a position apart from each other, maintenance work on the inkjet head section 103 and the cleaner head 133 can be easily performed.

FIG. 3b shows how the guide pin 303 is connected to the guide shaft 131.
It shows the state when it is fitted into the second ring-shaped groove 305 from the upper right. At this time, Fig. 3a
The support plate 106 moves to the left in the drawing in substantially the same manner as in the case of . The support plate 106 is shown in FIG.
Compared to the embodiment shown in FIG.
The head positioning plate 107 located at the tip of the cleaner head 133 comes into contact with the cleaner head 133. In this state, the side surface of the ejection port 102 of each head section 103 shown in FIG. 1 comes into contact with the cleaner head 133 to prevent clogging of the ejection port 102 (shown in FIG. It can be protected by capping and cleaned.

FIG. 3C shows a state in which the guide pin 303 is fitted into the third ring-shaped groove 306. The guide pin 303 is inserted into the second ring-shaped groove 305.
When moving the cleaner head 133 from the third ring-shaped groove 306 through the axial groove 307
The end bracket 211 is pushed down to the left in the drawing by a roller 309 pivotally supported by a roller stand 308 attached to the lower part of the support plate 106. In this way, when the guide pin 303 is fitted into the third ring-shaped groove 306, it is fixed in the state shown in FIG. 3c, and the positioning pins 124 and 124' shown in FIG. ), the ejection port 102 is set at a predetermined distance from the paper surface, allowing the inkjet head 103 to perform printing operations.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3c, the mechanism for setting the ink jet head section 103 in the recording operation position of the illustrated recording apparatus will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 4.

In FIG. 4, a recording paper 405 is conveyed from the bottom to the top (or from the top to the bottom) of the drawing along the surface of a platen 404 attached to a support 401 constituting a recording area forming means. With this configuration, a recording area that can be recorded is formed on recording paper, which is a recording medium.

On the other hand, a support body 401 constituting a recording area forming means
At both ends of the recording paper conveyance path, pin holders 403 are provided for positioning portions on the recording area forming means side, which also serve as means for relatively guiding the positioning portions on the recording means side to the engagement position via a holder stand 402. , this pin holder 403 penetrates through the holder base 402 and is rotatable. Then, by rotating the pin holder 403 in the insertion opening of the holder base 402, the reference surface 407, which is the positioning part of the pin holder 403, is moved in the left-right direction of the drawing, and the reference surface 407 of the holder is moved to the desired position. Can be set.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, at both ends of the support plate 106 on the recording means side on the platen side, a recording means side positioning part and a recording area forming means side positioning part are connected via brackets 125, 125'. A positioning pin 124 that also serves as a means for relatively guiding to the alignment position,
124' is attached. Here, when the guide pin 303 is inserted into the third fixing groove 306,
The pin 124 is pushed out to the left in the drawing together with the support plate 106, and the tip end 124F of the positioning pin 124 is guided to the receptacle 403H of the pin holder 403 while being relatively guided to achieve positioning. At this time, the positional relationship between the side surface of the ejection port of the ink jet head and the surface of the recording paper 405 is defined.

At this time, the pin holder 40 is held in place so that the side surface of the discharge port of each head does not hit the platen 404.
It is necessary that the reference surface 407 of No. 3 protrudes slightly from the surface of the platen 404.

Note that even in this case, the tip end 124F of the positioning pin 124 fits into the receiving hole 4 of the pin holder 403.
03H, adjust the mounting position of the board 126 to the device body (not shown) so that the tip 124F of the positioning pin is aligned with the receiving hole 4 of the pin holder.
Modify to ensure that it fits 03H.

A tip portion 12 serving as a means for relatively guiding the recording area forming means side positioning portion of the positioning pin to the engagement position
4F is guided and positioned by the socket 403H serving as a means for relatively guiding the recording means side positioning portion to the engagement position, the reference surface 407 of the pin holder 403 is aligned with the reference surface of the positioning pin 124. 406, thereby positioning the ejection opening surface of the ink jet head section and the platen surface.

At this time, the reference surface 406 of the positioning pin 124, which is the positioning part on the recording means side, and the reference surface 407 of the pin holder, which is the positioning part on the recording area forming means side.
are pressed against each other by the action of a spring 302 as a maintaining means, and the elastic force of this spring maintains the engaged state of both positioning parts.

When engagement positioning is performed in this way, a pressing force is applied between the positioning parts of the recording means and the recording area forming means, so even if the platen vibrates due to recording, etc., the ejecting is always performed. The distance between the exit side surface and the recording medium platen can be kept constant.

Also, rotate the pin holder 403 out of the insertion hole of the holder base so that the reference surface 40 of the pin holder 403
By moving 7 in the left-right direction in the drawing, the distance between the surface of the platen 404 and the ejection ports of the ink jet head (not shown) can be finely adjusted.

Furthermore, as described above, if the positional relationship between the side surface of the discharge port and the platen 404 is defined in advance,
For example, even after moving the support plate 106 to the position shown in FIG. The side surface of the ejection port and the platen 404 can be reset to a predetermined recording operation positional relationship.

As shown in this embodiment, when the recording area forming means side positioning part and the recording means side positioning part are engaged, the positioning parts are relatively guided to the engagement position by means of relatively guiding means, so that the positioning parts can be accurately aligned with each other. The positioning portion can be guided to the engagement position, and accurate and reliable positioning can be performed.

In this embodiment, the positioning section on the side of the recording area forming means and the positioning section on the side of the recording means are integrally provided with means for relatively guiding the positioning section on the opposite side to the engagement position.

By the way, as previously shown in FIG.
When the ink tank 6 is rotated about the hinge pin 138, the ink tank 116 (shown in FIG. 1), which is fixed to the substrate 106 via the tank base, also rotates. FIGS. 5a and 5b are sectional views showing the state of the ink tank 116 before and after rotation.

In FIG. 5a, the ink tank 116 is fixed on a tank base 501, and this tank base 501 is attached to the support plate 10 through a fixing fitting 122'.
It is combined with 6.

The ink tank 116 includes an ink refill tank 12.
0 is removably installed and fixed with a fixing claw 121'. The ink refill port 502 of the ink tank 116 is connected to the ink injection device 503 attached to the refill ink tank 120, and this connection is sealed with an O-ring 504.

When the replenishment tank 120 is not installed on the ink tank 116, the spring 505 causes the opening 506 of the replenishment tank 120 to be closed by the valve 507. The opening 506 of the refill tank 120 is closed by the valve 507.The valve shaft 508, which is turned to the right when the refill tank 120 is placed at the bottom of the refill tank 116, is pushed upward in the drawing.
20 opening 506 is opened, and the ink tank 1
16 and the inside of the replenishment tank 120 communicate with each other.

In this way, when the ink tank 116 and the replenishment tank 120 are communicated with each other, the ink in the replenishment tank 120 drops into the ink tank 116 while replacing the air in the ink tank 116. and,
When the ink level in the ink tank 116 reaches H _{2 O} , the lower opening 509 of the ink injection device 503 is blocked with ink, and the ink in the replenishment tank 120 is no longer replaced with air, so that the ink stops falling.

When the ink in the ink tank 116 is consumed and falls below the ink level H _O (level), the ink falls again from the replenishment tank 120 and the ink level in the ink tank 116 returns to H _O.

As mentioned above, since the connection between the ink tank 116 and the replenishment tank 120 is sealed by the O-ring 504, the inside of the ink tank 116 becomes depressurized as the ink is consumed. In addition, the ink tank 116 has a vent 50.
1 is provided. A vent block 118 is installed above the vent 501, and a filter 511 is removably inserted into the vent block 118 by a filter holder 512. A removable cap 119 can be attached to the open end 513 of the vent block to the atmosphere, but this cap 119 is removed when supplying ink to the ink jet head.

FIG. 5b shows the ink tank 1 in the position where the support plate 106 is rotated 90 degrees about the hinge pin 138.
16 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of FIG. In this way, the support plate 106
Even if the ink tank 116 and the replenishment tank 120 are rotated, the connection between the ink tank 116 and the replenishment tank 120 is sealed by the O-ring 504, so no ink leakage occurs.
In addition, the replenishment tank 120 has fixed claws 121 and 12.
Since it is fixed to the ink tank 116 at 1',
The refill ink tank 120 is the ink tank 116
It will not fall off.

As shown in FIG. 5a, when the ink level in the ink tank 116 is at H _O , the fifth
In the upright position of the ink tank 116 shown in Figure B, the ink level within the tank 116 is _H1 .

At this time, the ink tank is opened so that the open end 513 of the filter 511 and the vent block 118 to the atmosphere is above H ₁ (level), and the opening 509 of the ink injection device 503 is below H ₁ (level). 116 etc. is designed.

Therefore, the filter 511 is prevented from leaking ink and losing its breathability.

Further, the opening 509 of the ink injection device 503 is
Since it is lower than H ₁ (level), the ink tank 116 is removed from the replenishment tank 120 in the state shown in FIG. 5b.
When the ink tank 116 and the like are returned to the state shown in FIG. 5a, the ink level in the ink tank 116 does not rise above H _O (level). In the state shown in FIG. 5b, when the ink level in the replenishment tank 120 is
If the ink is located below the opening 509, the ink flows back from the ink tank 116 to the replenishment tank 120, and the ink in the ink tank 116 temporarily decreases, but it returns to the state shown in FIG. 5a. When returned, the ink level in the ink tank 116 is H ₁
Return to (level).

As explained above, the recording device of the present invention has
When positioning the positioning part on the recording means side, which is equipped with a full-line type recording part, and the positioning part on the recording area forming means side, it has a means for guiding the positioning parts on both sides to the engagement position, and the positioning part on both sides Since the positioning section is guided to perform the positioning state, it is possible to accurately and reliably position the recording means and the recording area forming means. Furthermore, since it has a holding means that uses elastic force to hold the positioning performed by each positioning means, even if vibration etc. occur during recording, the relative relationship between the recording area forming means and the recording means is maintained. Positional relationships can be maintained reliably.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the detailed structure of the cleaner head, and FIGS.
Diagrams for explaining the operation of the device, Figures 4 and 5 a and b
2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of other embodiments of the present invention, respectively. In the figure, 101 is a recording head unit;
2 is an ejection port, 103 is an ink jet head portion,
124, 124' are positioning pins, 125, 12
5', 132, 211, 211' are brackets, 1
26 is a substrate, 127 and 127' are support plate guides,
128, 128' are hinge stands, 129, 129' are hinge holders, 130, 130' are guide shaft collars, 131, 131' are guide shafts, 133 are cleaner heads, 134, 134', 135, 1
35' is a tube, 136, 137 are joints, 13
8, 138' are hinge pins, 139, 140 are stay angles, 141 are stays, 142 are screws,
143 is a tube guide, 144 is a protective case,
212 is a shaft, 213 is a support base, 214, 215 are hanging pins, 216, 302, 505 are springs as maintenance means, 301 is a ring, 303 is a guide pin, 304, 305, 306, 307 are grooves, 30
8 is a roller stand, 309 is a roller, 401 is a support stand, 402 is a holder stand, 403 is a pin holder, 404 is a platen 405 is a recording paper, 406,
407 is a reference plane.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Recording area forming means for forming a recording area of a recording medium and comprising a plurality of recording area forming means side positioning parts; a full-line type recording part for recording in the recording area; a recording means comprising: a recording means side positioning section that engages with a plurality of recording area forming means side positioning sections, respectively; means for relatively guiding the recording area forming means side positioning section and the recording means side positioning section to an engaged position; and maintaining means for maintaining the engaged state of the recording area forming means side positioning section and the recording means side positioning section with an elastic force. A recording device characterized by having the following. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means includes an inkjet recording head that performs recording on the recording medium by jetting ink. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the inkjet recording head has a plurality of recording head sections each having a plurality of orifices.